When you left, I started drinking.

Everyone should have their heart broken

At least once.

Demolition is the easy part.
It's rebuilding that takes time.

Tennessee

I look at the photographs you sent me almost every day.

There's a vision I always have
of you sitting behind the wheel
while I pretend to sleep

In between daydreams
and the waking sting of discovery
I watch your taut shoulders

Your hat is pulled back
and your shirt is dusty
Soft smile
Windows rolled down

Body quieted
The ache and need
Replaced with a warm glow

It will always haunt me.

Not your touch-
Your absence.

Horizon to horizon.

The the flare and dissipation of a mountain sunset
can't match the slow dissolution of day
that comes from a sinking winter sun
over prairies.

Settling down for winter.

Powdered sugar snow.

Warm hands.

Falling madly in love with your record collection, when at first I thought it was you. It's less complicated this way.

Besides, no one could live up to those stacks.

Daydreams with amazing soundtracks.

Headphones as earmuffs.

Marshy law.

Ducks don't often talk about the mundane minutiae of their days with each other, I'm fairly certain they discuss the great questions of life. The Why's of the wise.

When the mundane of the city is replaced by the repose of the remote, we all become philosophers.

Soul.

I love it when a song makes you feel so good, your heart hurts.

That's the ache that makes being alive worth every sullen moment.

Misbehavin'

Your children are brats. They are walking all over you. This is your fault, and our patience is wearing thin.

Care to know the psychological effects of spanking in my own personal experience? Good behaviour and consistently happy and enjoyable family outings. Full stop. Spankings are not beatings. One swat on the bottom is a spanking. Somewhere out there on a slippery slope, a small, whiny special interest group has turned otherwise rational people into spies who call child welfare if they witness a bratty half pint being disciplined by their own parents. I challenge you to reason with a 4 year old- it is like reasoning with a stick. If I acted out while on an outing- guess what? The outing was over. Lesson learned.

Now, back to you, ma'am. Just because mommy needs a new blouse, doesn't mean the rest of the world should be subjected to the screeching and flailing and awfulness of your progeny because of YOUR poor parenting skills.

There are so many good kids out there that I meet every day (and great, patient parents). And well-behaved kids. And no, I realize this is not the library in an adults only complex. Kids will be kids, but your kids are giving kids a bad name.